You always remember your first.....

[che]

I just cut down my first trees of ANY size that were actually vertical, was not intertwined with three others through their branches, healthy/intact, AND....not hedge! The largest was about 16-17" diam.

My mother-in-law asked me to cut them down as they were right over her septic system and causing problems. They were PERFECT beginner's trees: Slightest lean to them...in the desired direction, healthy, separated enough not to cause a problem, and in an area where I could quickly step away as they came down.

Kept in mind all the discussions/illustrations here....and 1,2,3....they did EXACTLY what I was wanting them to. I left some stump, as I think she may want to pull them.

Small potatoes to most here...but still......



:blob1: WHAT A RUSH! :blob1:

 

[che]

I was wondering about that....I was thinking the removal itself may damage the system.

She may not want to do anything with them at all....one is locust, the others I believe hackberry. Do they sucker out of a stump like Cherry or Osage Orange does?

 

[Pacific]

I have been doing some falling on my neighbours property falling some tall Western Red cedars 24-36"s at the butt I never dropped trees this large before. Two of them were heavy leaners they didn't really drop where I wanted them I never delt with heavy leaners.

Its good practice for me I wish thou I had a longer bar the 28" seems to be a bit short because doing the back cut is difficult. I can only stand on one side of the tree because of the slope I'am working on not much to stand on.

I had no problem dropping the 20" diameter at the butt Fir's all fell perfectly where I wanted them.

I guess its practice and more practice to get good at it


As for stumps over the septic tank I would second the suggestion to grind it if you try did the stump out you may risk damaging the tank.

 

[scottr]

your first

Che, you're hooked now. I'm wondering if that tree looked much larger on the ground. If it's black locust it makes good fence posts. Roy Underhill says that black locust last one year longer than stone in the ground. I'll bet you have other trees that you want to cut now.

 

[ricksvar]

If you mother in law is already having trouble with the septic tank it may have roots in it.The tank will likely have to be cleaned before the problem goes away with roots cut out of it.

I hope for her it's not that bad.

Rick

 

[Bremen]

Good story che, I'm sure you had a blast! Like scottr was saying, if that's Black Locust, that is some crazy stuff - grows like a weed, denser than many commercial hardwoods, and outlasts pressure treated lumber in the ground! It can be pretty stuff too:

Turned Black Locust

Your story is very much like something I'll be doing this spring/summer... I'm going to remove several black locusts that are encroaching on a septic system, dropping limbs, and (some of em) leaning over the grumpy neighbor's fence. If memory serves, the largest is 18-20" DBH, splitting into two distinct leaders at ~7ft high. The rest are in the 8-15" range.

My question for the experienced folks here: Is there any danger to septic tanks and/or pipes from falling these trees?

 

[Newfie]

"My question for the experienced folks here: Is there any danger to septic tanks and/or pipes from falling these trees?"


Yes, if the tree is large enough. You run the risk of crushing and breaking pipes or tanks with impact. Large branches can also "spear"into the system and do the same kind of stuff.

I work around septic systems as if they were a target such as a fence or house.

 

[JimL]

I was 9 or 10. had a 024 dad bought me to help him. he had a 028


dont remember where he was but i remember days before about taking down the big black walnut that was dieing in the yard.


So i took it uppon myself to cut it down.
I made the notch right, made the back cut right with a nice hinge,
cept I aimed it toward the chicken coop 15-20 feet away
timber I hollared as it came down smashing the coop to smithers and killing 3/4 of the chickens in it.

that was my first big tree

 

[eric_271]

First one

che Tordon will work in them stumps also. About a half a cup will kill a healthy 60 or 70 foot tree. You sure dont want to get it on your skin.

 

[logcutter429]

che, your hooked now, i got a cutting job coming up, you want it?

 

[tony marks]

as my daughter would say.. u go girl..
of course that may not be the hip way to say it now.. cant keep up any more.
theres some chance the roots just found areas of seepage around the septic tank..at least your motherinlaw can hope..also if its not too deep to get to u can simply dig around it to see if the concrete vault has been cracked an such..all a very desirable job.. as a young man i did some plumbing for several yr. before the 78 fiasco in construction forced me to get out ofit..good luck..

 

[JimL]

Re: First one

Originally posted by eric_271
che Tordon will work in them stumps also. About a half a cup will kill a healthy 60 or 70 foot tree. You sure dont want to get it on your skin.

I remember we sprayed this spike stuff about 3 years ago along a road that was on the edge of the property we logged. It killed all the trees grass and weeds that got sprayed.

 

[eric_271]

Tordon

I was looking for something better then round up. When I saw how well it worked it kind of scared me to touch the bottle after that.

 

[Bill G]

There are three chemicals mentioned but they do different things.

Roundup is strictly a nonselective contact herbicide. It is only effective on growing foilage. It works great for what is was intended for, killing all growing weeds and grass. Although it will kill small trees It is not the best solution. It is strictly contact with no residual. If you have a neighbor you really dislike you can "write" profanity in their yard with Roundup. It will not affect anything not contacted. If a person has growing brush to kill it is much better to use a brush killer that is 2-4-D based instead of Roundup. Roundup will kill the grass also whereas brush spray will not

I have never used Spike and in this area it was outlawed because of misuse. It was too effective. It was used here as a granular. When it rained it leeched into the soil and spread out. It was amazing to see some of the patterns it created in the ditches.

Tordon is the easiest and best method to use to prevent regrowth of woody stems. On a large stump all you have to do is spray it around the cambium layer. We have used it here for about 15 years and I have never seen a stump resprout or put out undgerground suckers. I put it in 32oz spray bottles for ease of use but it tends to destroy the pumps quicky. The only problem I see is it now no longer a restricted use pesticide thus homeowners will be buying it. It is RTU but they will still find a way to screw it up.

Summing up my ramblings. Flush cut the stumps, spray them with Tordon and let them rot.

Just my random observations
Bill

 

[eric_271]

I had way to many trees comeing up in my fence line around my property. The more I cut the more suckers I had. Iwent to coop and asked what they had for trees and they said Tordon RTU so I bought it. It is unreal how well just a little works. It is my guess also it wont be long befor it is outlawed. Way to potent.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Your first time sounds kinda like mine, you were a little awkward, the whole thing went too fast, and only one of you had a smile at the end.

 

[che]

Thanks guys! I was pumped up for a bit. I went back out and split a wheelbarrow full of the bigger hedge that I'd brought home using the MONSTER MAUL. Decided I'll leave that job alone.......

Turns out I wasn't 'on top' of the septic system...she had someone come out last summer to pump it and I guess it was upon his suggestion that she decided to get rid of these trees. They're on a ridge adjacent to it, leading down to an old 'driveway' (filled with three trees now.) I don't believe these trees were large enough to have had to worry about their weight (I think I told a fish story about 16-17...I think it was more like 14") but I DIDN'T think about the possible 'spears'....I've seen how deep they can go on the fallen trees I do work on, should have kept that in mind.

I doubt she'd bring in a grinder since there are still stumps in her yard that are well over a decade old....but I will check into the Tordon (for this and the fence work we're about to start) and will warn her about having them pulled.

I have many, many trees here....but have really never had the need to drop anything so 'normal'. Straight out of the cookbook. I've heard that long 'creeeeeeeaaaaaaakkk, snap' sound in some of JohnL's mpgs here.....much louder I'm sure on the other end.....but it was soooooo cool to hear it in person.

Thanks again....I had a feeling there may be someone here that could understand my excitement without thinking I was totally insane.

 

[eric_271]

che it is a rush. Just think what it would be like to see one of these guys fell a tree as big around as a bed room. I have never seen a tree that size cut down but think of the cracking sound and Im sure the ground might shake a bit.

 

[Dadatwins]

Most amazing feeling free falling large diameter tree. After making backcut I like to shut saw and take off muffs to hear all the cracking and breaking of the wood. Next big rush is just after tree hits ground you get a rush of air back at you. Sad feeling sometimes that it took something 100+ years to grow and 15 minutes to put it on the ground. But sometimes they have to go.

 

[Oregon_Rob]

Originally posted by Dadatwins
Most amazing feeling free falling large diameter tree. After making backcut I like to shut saw and take off muffs to hear all the cracking and breaking of the wood. Next big rush is just after tree hits ground you get a rush of air back at you. Sad feeling sometimes that it took something 100+ years to grow and 15 minutes to put it on the ground. But sometimes they have to go.

I to feel something when I fall a large tree, but it only lasts for as long as it takes me to start looking for the next victim.